Hand-setting mechanism for clocks.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

T. SGHAFPER. HAND SETTING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6,1900.

N0 MODEL.

jia/mufor JZz ZM f Z VQMMOW Aarzwy ha @vwL um/17M UNITED. STATES Patented May 5 ions.

PATENT OFFICE.

THEODOR SCHAFFER, on'nnLnE-RUP, DENMARK,

HAND-SETTING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,994, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed Fehrnary fi, 1900. Serial No. 4,064. (No model-l To all whmn it m-agl concern: v

Be it known that I, 'lnnon'on ScHAFFER, a subject of the King of Denmark, residing at Helleru p, Denmark, have invented certain I Norway, No. 11,460, dated September 2, 1899;

in Sweden, No. 1,327, dated 'Se'ptember'il,

1899; in Austria, dated September 10, 1899,

and in Hungary, No. 12,361, dated September 12, 1899,) of which the following is a specification.

The inventiomrelates to an electric handsetting mechanism by means of which the hands of a number of secondary clocks placed at dilferent places at fixed times can beset from a primary or standard clock placed'at a central station. The invention is characterized thereby that the hands of the secondary clocks at the momcntadjustment is to be offected are released from the axle by means of an armature attracted by an electromagnet, which armature simultaneously brings the hands into such a position that when the electromagnet releases its armature the hands, which then are again connected with the axle, are in true accordance with the position of the hands of the primary or standard clock.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of parts of a clock provided with the new hand-setting mechanism. The dial and the hands are omitted 3 and some parts are cut away in order-to betshows a detail of the hand-setting mach ter show the other parts. Fig.2 is a side view'of the clockwork,,showing the position of the parts when the magnets are deenea,

gized. Fig. 3 is a side view of some parts of the clockwork. The eleetromagnet has attracted its armature", so that the hands are released from the-axle and may be set. Fig. 4

is fixed to the tubular part c of the hub and must consequently rotate with the minutewheel. In front of the minute-wheel and firmly attached to this isa minute-hand pinion d. The hourhand pinion g is rotated from the minute-hand pinion d by means of pinion e, on the axis of which is fixed a pinion f, engaging 'pinion g. Th'e pinion 'g has a tube-shaped hub h, whiehincloses the tubular part c of the minute-wheel hub and to ture "It is mounted loosely on an axle Z, placed between the electromagnets in such a manner that it (the armatnre),can rotate around said axle and move longitudinally on it. To the armature isfixed a fork m, extending upward, and, further, a screw n, which acts as a counterweight, which when the armature is not attracted by the electromagnets brings the armature, and thereby the fork 171, into the normal position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1.

The electromagnets are included in an electric circuit through the standard clock at the central station, which circuit will be more fully explained.

To the front plate of the clock-frame at 0 a.- lever p is pivotally connected. A spiral spring 1'', adjustably connected at its rear end to the rear plate of, the clock-frame, has its forward end connected to the upper end of said lever and tends 'to tilt the same on its pivot, pushing the lower endof the lever away from the plate of the clock-frame. This 1e ver depends in vertical alinement with arbor and spindle and is provided with openings in horizontal alinement with said parts to permit of the passage thereof through the lower part of the lever. The levercarries a truncated cone q, slidable on arbor, which; is designed.

shown at 2. During-this period the lowerture away from the magnets.

I 19 carries the cone q out of contact with disk tlre contact-spring :5 will 1., so that the frictional engagement bet-ween the latterand minute-wheelbis broken. The disk 1' then turns independently, leaving the min ute-wheels and the parts controlled thereby free to be adjusted.

' The electromagnets are included in a circuit s, Fig. 1, connected to earth attand connected to the line 11., leading to the circuit of the standard clock, by means of a switch 'v and a contact in on the circumference of the minute-wheel, against which contact the contact-springs: of the switch is forced when the circuit sis to be closed through theli'neu. The circumference of the minute-wheel is of insulating material and is only provided with said contact-point w. The circuit s is therefore only closed when thecontact-springw touches contact 10. Switch 'v is capable of turning ona pin fixed on a plate 12 Fig. 1, which is insulated from the clock-frame, and switch '1) is kept in such a position by aspring .2 that the contact-spring :2 does not normally touch the circumference of the minute-wheel. Firmly attached to the upper part of the switch, but insulated therefrom, is a tooth a, which during the revolution of the hour-hand wheel is operated by pins or projections 0" on the front of this wheel, thereby turning the switch and forcing the spring w against the circumference of the minute-wheel. In the present example ar' shown three of these pins 0', having qua intervals on the pinion g, which is ma ing one revolution in twelve hours, and consequently be f a fed toward the circumference of the miniewheel every fourth hour, closing the c rcuit as soon as it touches the contactipfioint w? If at this moment a current is sent through the line it, then the electromagnets j aoe nerg ize'd and attract the armature, there= by 1: leasing the hands, which then may be adj stedlon the axle. This adjustment is effect d by means of the forkm, fixed to the armature. Yhen the armature k is attracted by the electromagnet, it will also be turned on axle Z, so that it comes into a horizontal ,ip-osition. The fork m is thereby brought into the position shown in full and dotted lines, Fig. 1, engaging the pin'l onthe back of the minute tube-wheel and moving it, and thereby the minute-wheel b, which, as stated in this moment, is loose on axle a, into a-predetermined position.

The mechanism operates in the following manner: It is supposedthat the clocks connected with the central station are to be adjusted every fourth hour-say, at four, eight, and twelve oclock-and it=- is also supposed that contactw. is-of such a size that it closes contact for ttvo minutes and that the pins 0" 'said shaft and the rotation of the armature for iug into activity the electromagnets. These will attract and turn the armature is, causing the release of the hands. At the same time the fork m is brought in engagement with the pin 0?, thereby bringing it and the hands into the position determined the pin (1 on the minute-wheel-.i. 6., on the stated full hour. After the ten seconds-41. e., at full hour-the standard clock breaks olf the circuit through the line. Consequently the electromagnets j release the armature 7c,

8o quently circuit s will be closed, thus bringby the situation of and all parts return at once into their normal positions, and the hands, which are now set by the standard clock, are again turned by the clockwork-axle a. After four hours the circuit is again closed and the adjustment repeated as stated above. The adjustment may consequently also be effected at other 7 times than "the above named, in which cas only is required that the position of the hands is changed with regard'to the contact-point w. The armature k being loose on the shaft Z, pressure of the spring r exerted through the lever p will hold the armature at the outer end of the said shaft, and when the magnets are energized the armature will both turn on move longitudinally thereon, overcoming in thelatter movement the pressure of the spring 7*.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a rotating arbor, a minute-wheel loosely mounted thereomhour-hand mechanism controlled thereby, means rotating with the arbor, a lever for holding said means in frictional engagement with said wheel, an electromagnet, an armaturecontrolled thereby, said armature when attracted tilting said lever to break the friction engagement with the minute-wheel, and means carried by the armature engaging said wheel to set the same, tary motion in which tilts the scribed.

said armature having a roaddition to the movement lever, substantially as de- 2. In com ination, a main arbor, a minute-' wheel, loos .y mounted thereon, hour-hand mechanism controlled thereby, a frictionclutch interposembetween said wheel and arbor, a rotating and shifting armature, means armature for operated by setting said minute-wheel, substantially as described.

controlled by the shifting of the releasing. said clutch and means .ICO

nal'ofits axis, sa d armature cotiperatingwibh said lever in the latter movement to conbmi maid frietiomdisk, an arm carriedjby said arturethet eforbontrolliug'said clutch, means mature ande' pin on said minute-wheel with whieh saigl arm coacfie whereby said minutewheel is 'set, substantially as described.

w '4. In e'ombinatioiga main arbor, a minutewheel lodse thereon, an hour-wheel pinion rotateq thereby, 'a. friction-clutch eoeperaaiug with sai(1 wheel, an electromagnet, an armaearried by said armature eeeperai ing with the minute-wheel to set the same and an electric Cil'Oflifi' comprising a. wire, leading to said eiectromagneo, a switch interposed in said 'line, a contact located on the periphery of the minute wheel, and means carried by the hour-pinion for shifting said switch into engagement with said contact to close the circuit; to ,ihe magnets, substantiziiiy as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

THEODOR SGHAFFER.

Witnesses:

.IULEs BROWN, J C. INGERSOLL 

